Blake Schwerdt left the mound on Sunday night after a dominant outing. Six innings, three hits, no runs, one walk and seven strikeouts.
The 2026 Eastern Athletic League MVP had many outings like that during his senior season with the Foothill baseball team. His 0.93 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched tell the story.
But Schwerdt graduated from Foothill High School earlier this month, and on Sunday, June 28, he wasn’t wearing a Cougar uniform. Instead, Schwerdt was repping the Colt 45s — Redding’s local independent collegiate summer baseball team.
Many of the players Schwerdt is playing with and against have experience competing at the college level. Yet, there are two other players on the Colt 45s that, like Schwerdt, recently completed their high school careers: Ty Jones and Degan Palos.
Jones, a Shasta graduate, and Palos, a West Valley graduate, both played against Schwerdt during the 2026 season. Now, the three local standouts are competing with each other for the Colt 45s.
General manager Rick Bosetti, the man in charge of building the Colt 45s roster, spoke about why he decided to invite the three recent high school graduates to play with a team of college level players.
“Their physicality, their bodies are already mature, their athleticism, and they’ve been able to exhibit their game awareness on the field,” Bosetti said. “It’s obvious they’re a little bit ahead of the normal around here.”
Bosetti, a former MLB outfielder for the Blue Jays, Phillies, Athletics and Cardinals, said that the goal for every player that comes through the program is to simply get better.
“What I would like to see them do is like the rest of our guys,” Bosetti said. “When they go back to wherever they’re going, they’re better than when they came here.”
Schwerdt has already seen some improvements to his game, and it’s showing in his stats. In 14.1 innings pitched with the Colt 45s (four appearances), Schwerdt has only given up five hits, one run and two walks while racking up 19 strikeouts.
“I’m throwing a little bit harder, I’m hitting my spots a lot better and my mechanics have been taking stress off my arm and keeping me healthy,” Schwerdt said. “It’s a really good experience, especially going into college and seeing how the competition is going to be and just being able to connect with some of the guys that I might be playing with in the future.”
It hasn’t been a huge adjustment for Schwerdt. One mistake pitch can prove more costly at this level, but so far, Schwerdt hasn’t thrown many mistakes. Compared to his senior season, Schwerdt’s walk rate, strikeout rate and WHIP have all improved in his 14.1 innings with the Colt 45s.
His start on Sunday was both the longest and most efficient outing of his Colt 45s career.
“I just have gone out and done my thing, hit my spots on the mound and just trusting my stuff,” Schwerdt said. “It felt good knowing that I came out and was able to deal and play my game.”
Palos and Jones have had their success. Palos started at second base in the Colt 45s three-game series against the Concord Zephyrs, and he made some incredible diving stops while turning multiple double plays.
Jones started Saturday’s game at catcher and recorded two RBIs. He had a three-hit game against the Lohose Baseball Academy on June 24 and hit a two-run home run against the Novato Knicks on June 18.
However, both players have had to adjust to the speed of the game.
“Especially with these older guys and coming out here as one of the younger kids and just adjusting to their level of pitching in the box and behind the plate; it’s been a lot different” Jones said. “Guys got a lot better stuff, but I think I’ve done a pretty good job so far.”
While it’s still the same game he played with the Eagles in high school, Palos has been relying on his older teammates as he adjusts to the speed.
“To work with guys that have experience and guys coming from colleges that know what they’re doing and have a gist of how they play the game and what they are thinking about,” Palos said. “It helps you realize that, hey, I can learn something from these guys … Every guy has their different talents, so it’s nice to see what each guy brings to the table.”
Bosetti has specific goals for each player. He wants to see Schwerdt continue to throw quality strikes. He wants to see Jones and Palos continue to mature at the plate and in the field. But most of all, Bosetti wants to see them dedicate themselves to improving.
“We’ve had kids move on and they continue their college career, and if that’s the top of their world, that’s the top of their world,” Bosetti said. “But they have a good time here. We treat them right and we inform them that we’re going to teach you really well.”
“They got a clubhouse, we wash their clothes, we provide their bats, we use major league balls, and everything is first class. Now here’s what we want from you: effort and a will to improve.”
So far, Bosetti said he has seen that effort and will to improve from Schwerdt, Palos and Jones.
Palos is set to continue his baseball career at Sacramento City College next year. Meanwhile, Schwerdt and Jones will continue playing together at Feather River College.
“We’ve always had a strong bond when he’s been catching me and I’ve been throwing to him,” Schwerdt said regarding his relationship with Jones. “We’ve played on multiple teams together and it’s just a fun time playing with him.”
The pair have grown up playing baseball both with and against each other. While they faced off as rivals in high school, they are back playing together for the Colt 45s — giving Feather River fans a sneak peek at what’s to come.
“We’ve had a relationship way before this; We’ve known each for a long time and I’ve always played against him,” Jones said. “We’ve always been really good friends, so I think it will be a blast.”
Brett Abrams is a sports reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. He covers high school and local sports in the Redding area. Reach out to Brett with any sports tips or news on X (formerly Twitter) @brabrams_ or by email at Brett.Abrams@Redding.com. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Former high school baseball stars find success with Redding Colt 45s
Reporting by Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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By Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
